The Ancient Secret to Creating a Business You Love With Abundant Success

“When the mind is opening to that unbounded pure awareness, the field of pure intelligence, simultaneously the body is losing stresses and strains, and thereby the clouds that were hindering the use of inner full creative intelligence in action, they begin to wither away.”

Maharishi Mahesh

Is 2022 the year you’re going to start your own business? If so, you’re not alone: worldwide, the “Great Resignation” is on, with more people than ever before choosing to take their career path into their own hands. Pursuing greater fulfillment and financial upside is a smart and worthwhile undertaking.

The first challenge is to decide what business you want to pursue. But before you dive in headfirst, here’s some counterintuitive advice: rather than rack your brain to figure out what you’re good at and can make money doing, begin by taking your “brain” out of the equation.

Step one, in my opinion, is to start a regular meditation practice. And I’m not the only 7(+)-figure business person to credit meditation for my success: billionaire Ray Dalio, Apple founder Steve Jobs, and media icon Oprah Winfrey, among many others, all say the ancient practice is the ultimate game-changer.

Wondering how a few minutes sitting quietly each day can make such a difference? Let’s look at why and how meditation can be the most important weapon in your entrepreneurial arsenal. 

The Top Two Reasons You Need Meditation

While there are many different types and styles of meditation, what they all have in common is it’s a practice that helps you silence your mind and tap into a deeper awareness.

This is crucial because your brain comes wired to tell you all kinds of stories — many of which are from other people and places, like parents, teachers, peers, and even society itself. And of course, we all have our own inner critic who likes to tell us to stick to things we know we can do. Your mind’s primal instinct is to keep you “safe.”

But beneath those programmed messages lies a greater truth. When you begin to quiet your mind, you will be able to ask yourself what you really want to do. And you’ll receive many clear answers that will help you confirm what you are good at and passionate about. 

This clarity will help you envision a business that is right for you so that you can move forward with greater ease and confidence. When your higher self guides you, it’s much simpler to tap into meaning and purpose. Having a driving mission is critical; it’s the difference between making a career change just because you hate your boss or because everyone else is doing it and making a move that can truly change your life.

The second reason a regular meditation practice is so important is because it helps you stay calm and grounded from startup through scale-up. The startup phase is especially challenging, as you need a clear mind to envision and execute your business idea.

Once your business is up and running, meditation will help you remain calm and poised to keep the business moving forward. Let’s face it, running a business can be stressful. Meditation gives you a critical tool to help stay physically and mentally strong and balanced. 

After all, what’s the point of having a successful business if you aren’t healthy enough to enjoy the fruits of your hard work? 

The great news is that meditation starts working almost immediately. Within a  few weeks, you will start feeling calmer and more peaceful. This will allow you to access the creativity you need, along with a deepening sense of purpose as it relates to your new business.

Put the Practice into Play

Once you’ve cultivated an inner awareness through meditation, it’s time to use that power in your “eyes open” state. 

The first step is to list your top skills. For example, are you good with numbers? Do you excel at planning and organizing? Are you a talented writer, a master chef, or have a green thumb? List your talents, and don’t be humble.  

Next, list all the things you love to do. This could be related to your top skills — for example, you might be an excellent chef and also consider baking a hobby. Or, they might not be related at all: you might love gardening, but not have a particularly green thumb.

One point to consider is that not all passions will lead to a profitable business.

For example, you may love to collect rocks or eat cake, but there likely isn’t a real need for rock collecting or cake-eating as a business. Also, there is something to be said for keeping your hobbies — which are a great way to relax and unwind — separate from your work.  

However, once you take a good look at the two lists — your passions and your talents — the overlap may well be undeniable. This is the kernel of an idea… and all you need to do is check to see if what you love and can do aligns with what people need and want.

In other words, consider your audience. Take a good look to see what’s trending globally and locally — what pain points and challenges do people have?  Feel free to personalize this part of the process: what frustrates you about certain products or services? Can you think of a solution? Keep in mind you don’t have to reinvent the wheel. Your business idea could be a simple improvement for an existing product or service.

Let’s look at a couple of examples of aligning what you love, what you’re good at, and what the world needs today and in the future.

Example #1: A pet-related business.

Dog ownership is on the rise in Canada, and today it’s a seven-billion dollar market.

You love dogs, and you are good at working with them. So, you have quite a few options in the dog industry. 

You could start a dog-walking or pet-sitting service or a mobile pet-grooming business. If you wanted to start a dog-related business that transcends the local area, you could consider opening an online dog supplies store on Amazon, for example.

Example #2: A business helping people trick out their home offices 

Thanks to the pandemic, remote work is exploding. And with remote work comes the demand for in-home office services. So, for example, if you’re savvy with computer hardware and software, you could offer mobile IT support. Or, if you love to work with your hands and/or are talented at woodworking, you could help people set up a home office or design and install workstations with custom shelves and desks.

Maybe you prefabricate small pre-built and wired buildings that could work as a stand-alone backyard office or studio.

The point is if you can dream it — and if you see others are doing it — you can do it. As a meditator, you’ll recognize that self-defeating thoughts are all in your head. And you’ll have the clarity to ensure that your passion and purpose are aligned. Money and success are a great start. However, a business that gives you a feeling you are making a difference and being of service is the path to a truly wealthy and meaningful life.

I’m sharing all of this with you because it’s the path I’ve taken with my business.

(And you can read more about my background here.)

To help you on your journey using meditation to help create a business that’s right for you, here are some books I recommend: 

The Miracle of Mindfulness: An Introduction to the Practice of Meditation by Thich Nhat Hanh

Meditation: The First and Last Freedom by Osho

Secrets of Meditation Revised Edition: A Practical Guide to Inner Peace and Personal Transformation Paperback by Davidji

Meditation: How to Meditate: A Practical Guide to Making Friends with Your Mind by Pema Chodron

Rich Dad Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not! by Robert Kiyosaki

The $100 Startup: Reinvent the Way You Make a Living, Do What You Love, and Create a New Future by Chris Guillebeah

Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap and Others Don’t by Jim Collins

Maverick: The Success Story Behind the World’s Most Unusual Workplace by Richard Semler

If this article sparked inspiration and questions, don’t hesitate to reach out. I’m here to help you on your journey.